Window regulator



Nov. 18, 1958 c. c. MILES, JR

WINDOW REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1955 INVENTOR.

Nov. 18, 1958 c. c. MIL-ES, JR 2,350,873

wmmow REGULATOR Filed 001:. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WINDOW REGULATOR Charles C. Miles, Jr., Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Danville Products Co., Inc., a corporation of Illinois v Application October 4,1955, Serial No. 538,305

8 Claims. (Cl. 268124) This invention relates to vehicle window regulators and has particular reference to a new and improved driving arrangement for a pivoted type supporting linkage for avehicle window.

The invention is directed to a window regulator of the type including an arm pivoted on a fixed axis and connected to the vehicle window for raising and lowering the window upon actuation of the arm. It is proposed in the present invention to actuate the support arm by means of a cable or chain drive arrangement, including a motor driven drive sprocket and an idler pulley, each of which rotate on fixed axes with the drive cable passed around the pulley and sprocket and connected to the pivoted support arm. Cable or chain type window regulators have heretofore been proposed but have not been employed in conjunction with the more or less conventional pivoted cross-arm linkage {arrangement disclosed herein due to the fact that the pivoted support arm to which the cable is connected ,does not move in a rectilinear path and therefore necessitates the provision of some means to take up the slack in the cable which results from pivoting of the support arm. The presentinvention contemplates a novel means of securing the cable to the pivoted arm in such a manner as to automatically compensate forthe pivoting of the arm and maintain the eifective length of the cable substantially constant irrespective of the angular position of the pivoted arm.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved window regulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cable type drive arrangement in combination with a pivoted supporting linkage for a window and including means for automatically compensating for the variation in the effective length of the cable upon actuation of the pivoted supporting linkage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means of securing a cable to a pivoted arm in such a manner as to automatically take up the slack in the cable as the cable is driven and effects pivoting of the arm. "Another object of the invention is-to provide a window regulator mechanism which is simple in construction and easy to install and quiet in operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are two sheets, which byway of illustration show a preferred embodiment of the invention and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles'of my invention. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my improved window regulating system as viewed from the inner side of a vehicle door in which it is used;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1; and

2 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken online 3-3 of Fig. 1. i v

In Fig. 2 the inner and outer panels forming a vehicle door are indicated at and 12, respectively, and a win dow 14 is vertically slidable between the door panels 10 and 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the supporting linkage for the window 14 comprises a support arm 16 pivoted at one end on a pin 18 projecting from a mounting bracket 20 which is secured to the inner door panel 10 by means of screws 22. The other end of arm 16 is provided with a roller 24 which is received within a horizontal channel 26 formed in a bracket 28 secured to the channel 30 which receives the lower edge of the window 14. Across arm 32 is pivotally connected to support arm 16 by means of a pin 34, the arm 16 being suitably bent adjacent its central portion so as to permit the arms 16 and 32 to lie substantially in a common plane.

The upper end of arm 32 is provided with a roller 36.

received within a slot 38 formed in a bracket 40 secured to the window channel 30. The other end of the arm.32 is provided with a similar pin or roller 36. adapted, to

' move along a slot 42 formed in a bracket 44 which is suitably secured to the inner door panel 10. It will be seen that upon pivotal movement of support arm 16 the two arms 16 and 32 will effect a scissoring movement with the ends of the arms free to slide along the channelsformed in their respective mounting brackets. 28, 40

and 44 so as to eifect raising or lowering of the window' A motor mounting bracket 50 is secured to the inner door panel by bolts 52 and includes a vertical portion 54 to which a motor unit 56 is secured. The motor unit 56 includes a reversible electricmotor 58 having adrive shaft 60 and a speed-reduction unit 62 having an input shaft 64 driven from the motor shaft 60 through a flexible coupling 66 which is adapted to reduce vibrations and absorb shocks with resultant quieter operation of the unit. The motor 58 is secured by screws 70 to a flange 72 formed on a plate 74 which is secured against a vertical portion 54 of bracket 50 by bolts 76. The mounting bracket 50 is provided with suitable slots throughwhich the bolts 76 extend so that the plate 74 may be adjusted vertically on the bracket 50.-

The output shaft 80 of the speed-reduction unit 62 projects through the plate 74 and mounting bracket 50 and has a drive sprocket 82 secured thereon between the mounting bracket 50 and the outer door panel. An idler pulley 84 is journaled on'a pin 86 projecting from a. bracket 88 which is suitably secured to the inner door panel 10 as by screws 90. A flexible drive member 92 is passed over the drive sprocket. 82 and pulley 84 so as to be driven with the sprocket upon operation of the,

motor 58. The drive member 92 as shown comprises a length of chain 94passed around the sprocket 82 and having one end connected to one end of a cable .96, thecable then passing upwardly around idler pulley '84 and having its other end connected to the pivoted support arm. .The other end of the chain 94 is also conn ected t o the support arm 16 so that, as the drive memberis driven from the sprocket 82 in either direction, the arm 16 will be pivoted on its pivot the..window.

It will be's een that, if the drive member were connected" to the pivoted arm 16 at a single point, pivoting of the arm would result in varying to a considerable extent the effective length of the strand of the drive member which was connected to the arm. Since the axes of the pulley 84 and sprocket 82 are fixed, a means is provided for automatically compensating for the variation in effective length of the cable or chain as the arm is pivoted thereby. A clip 98 is suitably secured to the arm 16 and includes oppositely directed ends 100 and 102 which are spaced Patented Nov. s, 1958- pin 18 to raise or lower 3 from the adjacent surface of the arm 16. One end of th cable 96 is secured to an attaching clip 104 which is in turn pivotally secured to the flange 100 of the bracket 98 by.means of a pin 106 with suitable spacers 108 being interposed between the flange 100 and thesides,v the attaching clip 104. One end of the chain 94 is con-' nected to the other end 102 of the bracket98xby a'pin 110 in a similar manner.. It will be seen thatthedriVe member is in effect secured to the pivoted arm 16 at two spaced points represented by the pins 106 and 11'0,and such points are arranged so that upon pivoting of the arm the etfective length of the cable is maintained substantially constant so that there is no slack or excess tension therein. As shown, the ends of the drive member are connected to the arm 16 in such a manner that a line through the two points of connection is substantially perpendicular to and bisected by. a line drawn through the pivot pin 18 and pin 34 which pivotally connects arms 16 and 32. As the arm 16 swings in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to lower the window, the points at which the cable is connected to the arm will move further away from a line connecting the axes of the drive sprocket and idler pulley, but this will be compensated for by the fact that the line drawn through the two connecting points will assume a more nearly vertical position and, as the arm 16 passes the horizontal position and the two points of connection therefor swing back toward the left-hand strand of the cable, the line between the constant irrespective of the angular position of said arm.

points of connection will move from a substantially vertical position to an angular relation relative to the other strand of the cable so as to take up the slack and maintain a constant effective length in the righthand strand of the cable. The specific location of the two pointsof connection of the cable to the pivoted arm may be considered illustrative only but it has been found in actual practice that, by locating such points substantially as shown, practically no variation whatsoever in the effective length of the drive member takes place.

3. A window regulator according to claim 2 wherein said two points are located so that a line between them is substantially perpendicular to and bisected by a line through the pivotal axis of said arm.

4. In a window regulator, an arm pivoted on a fixed axis and connected to the window for raising and lowering said window upon actuation of said arm, a pulley rotatable on a fixed axis, a drive sprocket rotatable on a fixed axis, a flexible drive member passed over said pulley and sprocket so as to be driven with said sprocket, and means connecting one strand of said flexible drive member to said pivoted arm for actuating said arm, said one strand of said drive member being connected to said arm at two spaced points thereon so as to maintain the eflective length of said one strand of said drive member constant upon pivoting of said arm.

5. In a vehicle window regulator including an actuating arm pivoted to the vehicle on a fixed axis and connected to the window for raising and lowering the window upon actuation of said arm, a pulley mounted on the vehicle for rotation on a fixed axis, a drive sprocket mounted on said vehicle for rotation on a fixed axis, and a flexible drive member passed around said pulley and sprocket, one strand of said drive member being connected to said arm at spaced points thereon whereby the effective length of said drive member remains constant as said arm is pivoted by said drive member.

6. In a vehicle window regulator including an actuating arm pivoted to the vehicle on a fixed axis and connected to the window for raisingand lowering the window upon actuation of said arm, a pulley rotatable on a fixed :1 axis, a drive sprocket rotatable on a fixed axis, a flexible drive member passed around said pulley and sprocket, and meansconnecting one strand of said drive member to said arm at spaced points thereon whereby the effective length of said drive member remains constant as said arm is pivoted by said drive member.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle window regulator including an actuating arm pivoted on a fixed axis and connected to the window for raising and lowering the window upon actuation of said arm, a pulley rotatable on a fixed aXis above said arm, a drive sprocket rotatable on a fixed axis below said arm, a flexible drive member passed around said pulley and sprocket, means for driving said sprocket, and means connecting one strand. of said drive member to said arm at two spaced points thereon whereby the effective length of said drive member remains substantially constant at all angular positions of said arm.

2. In a window regulator, an arm pivoted on a fixed axis and connected to the window for raising and lowering said window upon actuation of said arm, a pulley rotatable on a fixed axis, a drive sprocket rotatable on a fixed axis, a flexible drive member passed over said pulley and sprocket so as to be driven with said sprocket, said flexible drive member having one strand thereof connected to said pivoted arm at two spaced points on said arm located relative to said fixed axes so as to maintain the eflective length of said drive member substantially 7. In a vehicle window regulator, an arm pivoted on the vehicle and connected to the window for raising and lowering said window upon actuation of said arm, an electric motor mounted on the vehicle below said arm,

- a pulley mounted on the vehicle above said arm, a drive sprocket driven by said motor, a flexible drive member passed over said pulley and sprocket so as to be driven by said motor, and means connecting one strand of said flexible drive member to said pivoted arm at two spaced points located on said arm so as to take up the slack in said drive member upon pivoting of said arm.

8. In a vehicle window regulator including an actuating arm pivoted on a fixed axis and connected to the window for raising and lowering the window upon actuation of said support arm, a pulley, a drive sprocket, a flexible drive member passed around said pulley and sprocket, means for rotating said sprocket in either direction to drive said drive member therewith, said drive member being connected to said arm at two spaced points located on oneiside of the pivotal axis of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,877 Fitzgerald Apr. 9, 1929 1,850,864 Campbell Mar. 22, 1932 1,916,579 Mosher July 4, 1933 2,546,932 Rape Mar. 27, 1951 

